Cash in your chips Meaning in English

expression

US

KASH-in-yer-CHIPS

UK

KASH-in-yaw-CHIPS

Definition

To exchange your gambling chips for money, or figuratively, to quit, give up, or (slang) to die.

Usage & Nuances

Originally from gambling. Used literally at casinos, but more often figuratively: 'cash in your chips' means to give up, resign, or (slang) die. The death meaning is informal and slightly humorous or dark. Not used in formal writing.

• Spanish: cobrar tus fichas - rendirte (figurado) - morir (coloquial)
• Portuguese (BR): trocar suas fichas - desistir (figurativo) - morrer (gíria)
• Portuguese (PT): trocar as suas fichas - desistir (figurativo) - morrer (gíria)
• Chinese (Simplified): 兑换筹码 - 放弃/退出（比喻）- 死亡（俚语）
• Chinese (Traditional): 兌換籌碼 - 放棄/退出（比喻）- 死亡（俚語）
• Hindi: अपनी चिप्स भुनाना - छोड़ देना (अर्थान्तर) - मरना (बोलचाल)
• Arabic: استبدال رقائقك - الاستسلام (مجازيًا) - الموت (عامية)
• Bengali: চিপ্‌স ভাঙানো - ছেড়ে দেয়া - মারা যাওয়া (আনুষ্ঠানিক নয়, রসিক অর্থে)
• Russian: обналичить фишки - уйти - умереть (разговорное, шутливо)
• Japanese: チップを換金する - 身を引く - 死ぬ（カジュアル・ユーモラスな表現）
• Vietnamese: đổi phỉnh lấy tiền - bỏ cuộc - qua đời (nghĩa bóng, thân mật)
• Korean: 칩을 현금으로 바꾸다 - 그만두다 - 세상을 떠나다(비유적, 유머러스하게)
• Turkish: fislerini paraya çevirmek - pes etmek - ölmek (argo, mizahi)
• Urdu: چپ نقد کرانا - چھوڑ دینا - مر جانا (غیر رسمی، مزاحیہ انداز میں)
• Indonesian: menukar chip - menyerah - meninggal dunia (makna kiasan, tidak resmi)

Example Sentences

After losing all his money, he decided to cash in his chips and leave.

basic

When things got too difficult, she chose to cash in her chips.

basic

Some people use 'cash in your chips' to mean someone has died.

basic

After twenty years in the business, Mark finally cashed in his chips and retired to Florida.

natural

Well, if they won't let us join, maybe it's time to cash in our chips and move on.

natural

The old cat peacefully cashed in her chips last night.

natural